Moffit Responds to Krugman Column in The New York Times

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Paul Krugman's op-ed column "A Socialist Plot" (Aug. 27) argues
that, since we already enroll millions of middle- and upper-class
children in government schools, we should enroll them in government
health programs as well.

But after drawing an analogy between education and health care,
the good professor failed to finish his homework.

Schools vary. Where public schools are failing, middle- and
upper-income kids can get out and enroll in better, private
schools. It's poor kids who get trapped in poorly performing
schools. To give them an equal opportunity at education, The
Heritage Foundation wants poor kids to receive vouchers or tuition
assistance that would enable them to enroll in a decent
school. Krugman ignores the quality issue entirely.

Choice is a critical factor in health care, as it is in
education. Most families, regardless of income, have little
choice when it comes to health coverage. If they're lucky,
they get coverage through an employer. If not, their only
practical option is to buy it on their own-and pay a heavy tax
penalty that could add up to 50 percent on their premium costs-or
go bare.

Krugman wants to solve the problem by enrolling Americans in a
government health care monopoly, where government officials will
make the key decisions. Heritage proposes to offer everyone health
care tax credits-a "progressive" system with additional assistance
to low-income families-so all can pick, and own, the health policy
that suits them best.

Both approaches lead to universal coverage. Ours respects
personal freedom and promises access to American private medicine,
a system far more responsive to individual patient needs.